Director of Dar Al Mustafa, Tarim, Yemen

Habib Umar bin Hafiz is well known for his Prophetic lineage and status as one of the most influential Sufi scholars alive today. His influence through scholarship and preaching is vast in the Middle East, Indonesia and East Africa especially. He is also incredibly influential through his leadership of the Ba’ Alawi movement. He has been touring Europe and the US regularly in the past few years in response to his growing following there.

Cultivation of Scholarship: Habib Umar founded and runs Dar al Mustafa, a centre for traditional Islamic scholarship that currently hosts an array of international students, in Tarim, Yemen. Many of the graduates have gone on to become leading figures worldwide. He has joined the ranks of the world’s leading Muslim academics and scholars as a signatory of ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’, a document that builds bridges between the Muslims and Christians. He has also spoken at Cambridge University on the need for such a dialogue.

Da’wa and Humanitarian Efforts: Habib Umar is noted for his da’wah efforts, with significant visits to the USA and Europe. He has also partnered with Muslim Aid Australia as founder of Yemen-based NGO Al Rafah Charitable Society to address issues of poverty and hunger and lack of sufficient health care that affect areas of Tarim.

Ba’Alawi Tariqah: The Ba’Alawi have been centred in the region of Hadramaut, Yemen, for over a thousand years.They have produced outstanding figures of scholarship and piety and are well known for their missionary work, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. The Tariqah has now spread to all parts of the world and is famous for using the Ihya Uloom ad-din of Imam Ghazali as a basis of their teachings.

15At the age of 15, Bin Hafiz began to teach, while continuing to study and receive lessons.

360Tarim a city known for the large number of mosques.

““Sternness” with disbelievers refers to remaining firm on one’s religion, not that one is harsh or hard in one’s relations; nor that one upholds anything but excellence in dealings… Never did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) ever frown at anyone, nor insult, nor revile anyone… even his enemies .

““Sternness” with disbelievers refers to remaining firm on one’s religion, not that one is harsh or hard in one’s relations; nor that one upholds anything but excellence in dealings… Never did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) ever frown at anyone, nor insult, nor revile anyone… even his enemies . « View more quotes

15At the age of 15, Bin Hafiz began to teach, while continuing to study and receive lessons.